The Great White Throne Judgment, described in Revelation 20:11-15, can sound terrifying to us. What is it really about?

We get our best clues looking closely at John 3:16-21:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God (NIV, 2011).

Believing in Jesus is not mere intellectual assent. It is trusting Jesus as God’s “way, truth, and life” to save us, change us, mold us, and use us! (John 14:6). If we trust Jesus, we cannot be condemned. We run into the light of Christ and find safety! If we don't trust Jesus, we have everything to fear as we read about God's judgment! We will run anywhere to escape God's light!